OPINION
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez will undoubtedly want to bring some fresh faces in come the January transfer window.
And one of the smartest additions the Magpies boss could make would be Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny. The Egypt international has effectively been frozen out by new Gunners chief Unai Emery this term, and he was told on Sunday to escape the Emirates Stadium.
“He needs to leave Arsenal in the next transfer market, at least on loan to play more and regain his confidence,” Elneny’s former coach Hamdy Nouh told Goal. “He has been influenced lately by the change in coach and his new style, but I am confident that he will return better than before, because of his great potential and the competitive spirit that will help him get back in.
“He is one of the best players I have trained, he has a constant desire to learn and develop. He is committed to the coach’s instructions on and off the pitch, which always helps him to be present mainly with most of the teams he has played for.”
There’s no doubt that Elneny needs to get away from Arsenal and, as Nouh says a loan switch away from the club could work for him.
That would be perfect for Newcastle, with Benitez’s staff perceiving loan moves to be the most realistic prospect of January additions, according to the Chronicle.
The Magpies would have to send Kenedy back to Chelsea in order to make room for the Brazilian, but Benitez would surely have no problem casting aside a player who has perpetually disappointed this campaign.
That would create space for him to bring in a tremendously talented midfielder in Elneny, one who has the ability to dictate games from the middle of the park.
The Egyptian powerhouse offers superior defensive ability than Mohamed Diame while providing passing skills similar to Jonjo Shelvey’s. He would be an instant upgrade on either Diame or Ki Sung-yueng in the middle of midfield.
He is being wasted at the Emirates and he has the ability to thrive in a less intense environment. Newcastle would be the perfect place for him to get his career back on track.
